Lighting display with complex image motion

ABSTRACT

A rotatable light source is centrally mounted on a sloping roof having reflective properties and at least two surfaces. The horizontal positioning and angle of reflection of the light source may be variable. Reflections from the roof produce complex light image motion to a remote viewer.

United States Patent [1 1 Fowler 1 LIGHTING DISPLAY WITI-I COMPLEX IMAGE MOTION [76] Inventor: Joe W. Fowler, 5034 Franklin Rd.,

Nashville, Tenn. 37220 [22] Filed: July 26, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 166,200

[52] US. Cl. 240/10.1, 40/130 B, 240/61 [51] Int. Cl. G091 19/00 [58] Field of Search 240/101, 41 B, 41.36, 12;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,904,901 4/1933 Lawrence 240/101 1,665,838 4/1928 Becker 240/12 [4 1 Feb. 26, 1974 1,796,233 3/1931 Barns 52/105 X 1,753,144 4/1930 Bassett 240/11 3,201,579 3/1965 Harper 40/130 R 543,730 7/1895 Heap 240/12 1,014,958 1/1912 Edison 240/101 Primary ExaminerDona1d O. Woodiel Assistant Examiner-Daniel M. Yasich Attorney, Agent, or F irm- I. .1. Crickenberger [5 7] ABSTRACT A rotatable light source is centrally mounted on a sloping roof having reflective properties and at least two surfaces. The horizontal positioning and angle of reflection of the light source may be variable. Reflections from the roof produce complex light image motion to a remote viewer.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIEmwrms I974 mil 1 m 2 INVENTOR J05 W FOWLER ATTORNEY- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of merchandising has long recognized the importance of advertising in attracting the attention of the public to a particular commodity or service. In addition toadvertisements which describe the features of a commodity, other visual means which call attention to or establish identity with the source or origin of the commodity are also important. Certain package shapes may become associated with a product and serve to identify and advertise the product.

Services have also come to be identified with shapes of signs or of buildings. In the case of some services a franchisor or multiple location retailer may select a particular shape for the buildings to house the service, and then develop in the general public an association between the building, as identified by the shape, and the service being sold. The present invention relates particularly to lighting displays associated with the roofs of buildings to produce visual images associated with a service being sold.

Recent figures indicate that as much or more prepared food is sold after dark as in daylight hours. In developing an image or identity for use with multiple restaurant locations the appearance under day and night conditions must not change substantially so as to dilute the customers continuity of visual image. If the appearance is greatly changed by darkness the two distinct day and night images retard the effectiveness of the multiple location concept and its mass media advertising programs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention a lighting display is used in connection with the roofs of a plurality of buildings to create a visual identity among multiple locations of the buildings. A typical example of the practical application of the invention would be in a nationally franchised restaurant chain where continuity of visual identification of the exterior of the restaurants by the motoring public is important under both day and night viewing conditions. Since the roof ofa building is one of its most striking features when viewed from a distance, a lighting display has been associated with the roof structure to serve as the desired image identity.

The invention comprises a rotating or oscillating light source centrally mounted on a sloping roof structure. The roof is light reflective and includes at least two surfaces which intersect in a view from a single remote point. The repetitive motion of the light source over the reflective roof produces complex image motion as the light rays are reflected first from one surface and then another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a building showing the roof configuration and mounting for rotatable lights;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a building having a lighting display constructed in accordance with the invention and showing how the reflected light rays may be viewed by a passing motorist;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing an adjustable light source mounted on a roof structure; and

FIG 4 is a diagrammatic view of a roof showing the complex image motion produced by a rotating light source.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will be understood more readily by referring to the drawings in which FIG. 1 shows a building indicated generally by the numeral 1. The roof 3 of the building 1 is an eight-sided sloping structure which includes surfaces 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 visible in the view shown. These surfaces form lines of intersection at l5, 17, 19 and 21. V

Centrally mounted on roof 3 are a plurality of lights 23, 25 and 27 which are attached to rotatable base 29 by means of arms 31, 33 and 35, respectively. The base 29 and attached lighting assemblies may be rotated or oscillated in a repetitive pattern at a constant or variable rate by any of a number of available commerical units (not shown) whose structure form no part of this invention.

FIG. 2 shows a building 41 with a rotatable lighting assembly 43 mounted centrally on roof 45. The arrows emanating from light 47 are shown reflected from the surface of roof 45 to the eye of a passing motorist in automobile 49. It will be appreciated that the height and location of building 41 with respect to automobile 49 and road 51 will affect the angle of reflection required so that the lighting display will be readily visible by passing motorists. These factors, together with the position and direction of light 47 with respect to the slope of roof 45 all enter into the design elements involved. The ultimate objective in locating the building and positioning the lighting and reflecting components is to achieve the desired angles of reflection to make available the lighting image motion to the passing motoring public.

FIG. 3 shows another roof structure 61 having a light 63 centrally mounted thereon by rotatable base 65. Light 63 is attached to base 65 by telescoping arm sections 67 and 69 which allow for adjustable positioning of light 63 in a horizontal plane with respect to rotatable base 65. Light 63 is mounted on arm 69 by a suitable adjustable connection such as ball joint 71. Ball joint 71 allows light 63 to be adjusted with respect to the vertical to vary the angle of incidence of light rays striking surface 73 on roof 6]. A conventional variable speed motor drive system 64 is mounted within base 65 to rotate light 63.

The manner in which the lighting display operates will be understood more readily by referring to FIG. 4 which shows a diagramatic pattern of the reflected light as light source 63 shown in FIG. 3 rotates clockwise about base 65. Surfaces 73, 75 and 77 of roof 61 form lines of intersection at 79 and 81. The incident light rays from light source 63 are shown by phantom ellipses in FIG. 4 which progress from right to left as indicated by the curved arrow. The phantom ellipses from light source 63 actually show up as such because of the slope of roof 61, and the envelope 83 of these light ellipses traces a generally parabolic shape because of the planar surface and sloping angle or roof sections 73, 75 and 77. The net effect to a remote viewer as light source 63 rotates around the roof is a reflected pattern of complex light image motion which varies with the surface texture, angle of slope and sectional configuration of the roof surface.

The motive sources for the lighting assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 may produce rotation or oscillation in any desired repetitive pattern in accordance with the ultimate viewing effect desired. The rate of rotation or oscillation may be varied to produce special effects, and the rate may be adjusted to produce the optimum viewing effect. The mounting arms for the light sources may all be adjustable to allow vertical and horizontal positioning to be varied. While the roof surfaces shown are generally planar, roughly textured specular surfaces may be employed to produce startling effects. The reflected image motion increases in proportion to the number of intersecting surface sections contained in the roof, and variations in roof design can produce limitless patterns of light images.

What is claimed is:

1. A roof lighting display with complex light image motion to attract the attention of passersby and provide visual identification comprising;

a building having a sloping roof including at least two light reflective surfaces,

a source of light mounted on and above said sloping roof for relative motion with respect thereto and positioned to shine on said light reflective surfaces,

and

means to produce relative motion between said source of light and said sloping roof, whereby repetitive motion of the light source over the reflective surfaces produces complex image motion as the light rays are reflected first from one surface and then another to provide a desired visual image identity.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein;

the relative motion between said source of light and said sloping roof is rotary.

3. The combination according to claim 2 comprising;

means to vary the angle of reflection between said source of light and said sloping roof.

4. The combination according to claim 1 comprising;

means to vary the rate of relative motion between said source of light and said sloping roof.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein;

said source of light is centrally mounted, and further including means to vary the positioning of said source of light in a horizontal plan with respect to said central mounting. 

1. A roof lighting display with complex light image motion to attract the attention of passersby and provide visual identification comprising; a building having a sloping roof including at least two light reflective surfaces, a source of light mounted on and above said sloping roof for relative motion with respect thereto and positioned to shine on said light reflective surfaces, and means to produce relative motion between said source of light and said sloping roof, whereby repetitive motion of the light source over the reflective surfaces produces complex image motion as the light rays are reflected first from one surface and then another to provide a desired visual image identity.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein; the relative motion between said source of light and said sloping roof is rotary.
 3. The combination according to claim 2 comprising; means to vary the angle of reflection between said source of light and said sloping roof.
 4. The combination according to claim 1 comprising; means to vary the rate of relative motion between said source of light and said sloping roof.
 5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein; said source of light is centrally mounted, and further including means to vary the positioning of said source of light in a horizontal plan with respect to said central mounting. 